Clasp.



PATBNTED JUNE 9, 1908.

0. L. GAMMELGAARD.

CLASP.

APPILIUATION rum) no. so, 1901.

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NTTE STATES PTEN IFFICE.

OVE L. GAMMELGAARD, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO J. M. FISHER AND COMPANY, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A OOPARTNERSHIP.

CLASP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ovn L. GAMMELGAARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the town of Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to clasps of the class that are actuated by a spring and adapted to look when closed, and the object of the invention is to provide a clasp of extremely simple, inexpensive and practical construction that is most effective in its operation. It is found in the practical use of clasps of this character now on the market that some have a loop spring plate which is slotted through its upper member for the reception of a projcction formed on the short arm of the looking lever, and in applying this clasp to a garment the said projecting end often engages the nap of the fabric and pulls, tears and in jures the same. Another objeetional feature of one of the old style devices is that the loop s ring is not permanently held in position in tfie frame and is too easily displaced.

All of the above objections are completely obviated in my improved clasp, one of the essential features of which is that the loop spring plate is cut away or slotted only at the point where the same is bent, forming two resilient connecting side arms which renders the plate much more elastic or resilient there by admitting of a thicker or heavier spring member being used in the construction of larger clasps for heavier work, and still be easily bent and manipulated by a comparatively short lever. The engaging end of the lever does not project through the plate but rests upon the upper face of the same, therefore it cannot engage the fabric but forces the free jaw of the spring loop down to bite the garment with a flexible grip.

Another feature of the invention is that a portion of the stock which is cut away from the throat is bent up and around to form a hook for engaging a bar in the upper side of the frame whereby said spring is positively retained in said work against any possibility of inadvertently removing the same therefrom.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1907. Serial No. 408,497.

Patented June 9, 1908.

and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of the device with the lever in position. Fig. 2 is a top view of the frame with the lever removed. Fig. 3 is a central sectional side elevation showing the loop spring jaw in its open position. Fig. 4* is the same showing the aw in its closed position. Fig. 5 is a detail showing a plateof the loop spring as it is struck out of sheet stock. Fig. 6 shows a rear view of said spring plate bent up into the form of a loop to fit into the frame. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the locking lever. Fig. 8 is a sectional end. view of the frame showing the edges bent up around the loop spring plate.

Referring to the drawings 1 is the frame or body portion of the clasp preferably constructed of a single piece of metal bent into a U-shape thereby forming an open-mouth frame with two parallel members 2 and 3 yoked together at their inner ends. When itis desired to construct this frame of precious metals, as gold or silver, it may be made extremely light, if desired, and have an inwardly turned flange 44 all around its outer edge, which flange will serve a'double purpose, first, to strengthen or stiffen the frame, and second, to form somewhat of a recess in the body of the frame for the purpose of receiving and assisting in retaining the loop spring therein. The upper or lever receiving member 2 of this frame is provided with a hole which is punched through it leaving a cross bar 6 near its inner end. Recesses 77 are also formed on the underside of this member by forcing the stock outward for the purpose of receiving the laterally projecting trunnions 8-8 on the rock lever 9. This lever is provided with a handle 17 that is substantially the same shape as the outline of the recess 5, the end being curved slightly upward in order to facilitate raising the same from the frame. The opposite end 16, or short arm of this lever is bent down at substantially right angles to its length the short trunnions 8-8 projecting transversely therefrom substantially at the point of the bend in th elever.

A flat spring jaw plate 10 is preferably blanked out of sheet stock and bent u into a form to correspond to that of the rame. Thesaid jaw is cut out at 11 thus taking out the center portion of the stock at this point "leaving two. spring or resilient connecting side arms 12 and 13 which makes this member more elastic and easy to bend. The stock in the upper member of this spring is split on either side from the recessed portion towards the end of the jaw thereby forming a resilient tongue 18, the end of which is bent up at 14 into the form of a hook which is adapted to be turned over the fixed bar 6 in the frame thereby forming a simple and effective means for assisting to retain said loop spring in position in the frame.

At 15 is a raised lug or boss against which the engaging arm 16 of the lever rests when the same is in its raised. or open position, thereby forcing the spring loop back into its frame, also serving to retain it firmly in position when the jaws are released or in their open position.

It is found in the practical use of clasps of this character now on the market, where the loop spring is held by its bottom member,

I, that in time as the spring becomes weakened the outer end ofthe upper or movable jaw recedes, or becomes set inward from that end of the frame leaving a space between the two into which the fabric is apt to catch in applying the clasp thereto.

By the application of my improved construction in attaching the spring member by the hook 14 on its resilient tongue 18 to the upper arm. of the frame it is found that this portion of the spring has an additional tendency to return and remain close up against the underside of its frame thereby insuring the mouth of the clasp to open to its fullest extent, and. by means of the downwardly projecting lip 4, which extends over this end,

it is practically impossible for anything to be passed between the spring and the upper member of the jaw when the clasp is opened.

In constructing my improved device the U-shaped frame is first stamped out into the desired form and the loop spring placed in position therein and the tongue is turned or hooked over the bar 6 in the frame. The inwardly turned edge around this frame also assists in retaining the loop spring in-position therein at the same time stiffening the frame and giving to it a much more finished appearance which is found desirable particularly in the higher class of goods. The lever is then placed into-position with its trunnions engaging the corresponding recess on the underside of the upper member 2, said lever having its engaging arm bent a little forward of a right angle to its length whereby when the lever is thrown down to force the jaw into its gripping position, the end of the arm is'slightly forward of the axis of the trunnions thereby effectually locking the lever when the jaw is closed. WVhen it is desired to open the same or allow the jaw to rise, the handle 17 of the lever is raised slightly and is'then forced upward the rest of the distance by the pressure of the spring into the position shown in Fig. 3.

The device is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction and effective inits operation, and may be used for a great variety of purposes, such for instance, as securing watch-chains, cuffs, collars, neck scarfs and the like, also for retaining any garments or articles the edges of which may be passed between the clamping jaws.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A clasp comprising a U-shaped frame, one member of which is provided with an opening through it, a bar across said opening, a spring-plate adapted to fit into said frame, the middle portion of said plate being -re moved at the point where the same is adapted to bend, a retaining hook in said plate for engaging said cross-bar, and a lever for operating one member of said plate to open and close the clasp.

2. A clasp comprising a U-shaped frame, one member of which is provided with an opening through it, a baracross said opening, a spring plate adapted to fit into said frame, the middle portion of said plate being removed at the point where the same is adapted to bend forming two resilient connecting side arms, a spring tongue in one member of said plate, a retaining hook on the free end of said tongue for engaging said cross-bar, and a lever for operating one member of said plate to open and close the clasp.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OVE L. GA M MELGAARD.

Witnesses:

Fnnnnic S. J OHNSON, I LIZZIE W. PERRY. 

